Received unexpected $80 payment from Social Security before first retirement check - what is this?

Those $80 payments sound like they might be what's called a one-time, lump-sum death benefit payment. Did either of you list a deceased relative (like a parent) on your application? SSA sometimes processes these automatically when you file for retirement benefits if you were eligible but never received it. It's a fixed amount that hasn't changed in decades.

my mom got something similar when she started her SS last year... turned out it was some kind of partial payment for the first month because she applied in the middle of a month or something like that? i dont remember exactly but it wasnt a mistake, they meant to send it

SAME THING happened to me in November!! I got $75 random payment before my regular check started. When I FINALLY got through to someone at SSA (took THREE DAYS of calling), they said it was a prorated partial month payment because of when my entitlement date started versus when my regular payment cycle begins. The rep said it happens all the time but they don't explain it well to people!!! So frustrating!!

What you're seeing is most likely a partial month benefit payment. Social Security payments are made for the previous month (your January payment covers December benefits). When you first file, depending on your entitlement date, they sometimes have to send a smaller partial payment to cover a specific time period before your regular payment cycle begins. For example, if your entitlement date was December 15th, they might send a partial payment covering December 15-31 separately, then your regular full monthly benefit would start at the end of January for the entire month of January. The fact that both you and your husband received identical amounts is probably coincidental or because you applied on the same day with similar circumstances. This is completely normal and the money is yours to keep. You should see your regular full benefit amount on your scheduled payment date.

i got a weird payment when I started collecting too but mine was like $43 and came right before my first check... nobody explains ANYTHING anymore with social security, its like they expect you to just figure it all out yourself

If you need to confirm what these payments are, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to a Social Security agent quickly. I was having the same issue with unexpected deposits after filing and spent days trying to get through. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes who explained everything. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent told me mine was a partial month payment too. Apparently it's very common but they don't send any notification explaining what it is.

wait so do we get these little payments every month or just the first time?? im applying next month when i turn 62

Has anyone else noticed how IMPOSSIBLE it is to get answers from SSA about ANYTHING?? It's like they DELIBERATELY try to confuse us! Every time I call I get different answers! Why can't they just send a simple explanation with these random payments????

For future reference, the MySocialSecurity online account can sometimes show these payments and explain what they are. If you haven't created an account yet, I highly recommend it. You can see your payment history, benefit verification letters, and manage direct deposit information without calling. Might have saved you some confusion in this case.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I had a very similar experience when I started my Social Security benefits last year. Got an unexpected $62 payment about two weeks before my first regular check. Like others have mentioned, it turned out to be a partial month payment to cover the gap between my entitlement date and when regular monthly payments begin. What helped me was keeping a simple log of all payments received - dates, amounts, and any correspondence from SSA. This way if there are ever questions later, you have your own records. The MySocialSecurity portal does eventually show more detail, but sometimes it takes a few weeks to update with the explanations. Don't stress about it - these partial payments are very common when starting benefits!

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been following these Social Security discussions closely since I'm planning to file soon myself. Your experience with the $80 payments sounds exactly like what several others have described - those partial month payments that SSA doesn't explain well upfront. It's really helpful to see how common this is! I'm curious though - did you and your husband apply on the exact same date? I'm wondering if that's why you both got the identical $80 amount, or if SSA just has standard partial payment amounts they use. Thanks for sharing your story, it's definitely easing my anxiety about what to expect when I file!

I'm new to this community but had a very similar situation! I received an unexpected $67 payment from SSA about 10 days before my first regular retirement check arrived. Like you, I panicked thinking it was a mistake and worried they'd want it back. After reading through all these responses, it's so reassuring to know this is completely normal! I wish SSA would just include a simple note explaining "This is a partial payment for X days of benefits" instead of leaving us all confused and worried. Thanks for posting this question - I'm sure it's helping other newcomers like me understand what to expect during the transition to retirement benefits. The community here is so much more helpful than trying to navigate SSA's phone system!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how reassuring this thread has been! I'm 64 and planning to file for Social Security in the next few months, and honestly, posts like this help me understand what's "normal" versus what might actually be a problem. The fact that so many people have experienced these unexplained partial payments makes me feel much better about what to expect. It's frustrating that SSA doesn't provide clearer communication about these things upfront - seems like a simple "partial month benefit payment" notation would save everyone a lot of worry. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed explanations from Chris and others. This community is already proving to be more helpful than any official SSA resource I've found!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I just went through this exact same situation last month. I received an unexpected $91 payment from SSA about a week before my first regular retirement check, and like you, I was completely confused and worried it was a mistake! After reading through all these helpful responses, it's clear this is just how SSA handles partial month payments when you first start benefits. What really struck me is how common this experience is - yet SSA provides zero explanation with these deposits! I ended up calling and waiting on hold for over an hour just to be told it was a "prorated benefit payment" with no additional details. This community discussion has been far more informative than anything I got from the official channels. Thanks for posting this question - I'm sure it's helping many other newcomers understand what's normal during the transition to retirement benefits!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! I received an unexpected $73 payment from SSA about 3 weeks before my first regular retirement benefit arrived. Like so many others here, I was completely baffled and worried it was some kind of error that would need to be repaid. After reading all these responses, it's clear this is just SSA's standard (but poorly communicated) way of handling partial month payments for new retirees. What really bothers me is how this seems to be such a universal experience, yet SSA makes no effort to explain these payments upfront or include any kind of explanation with the deposit. I spent days stressing about it unnecessarily! This discussion has been more informative than anything I could find on SSA's website or through their phone system. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's such a relief to know this is completely normal and that the money is legitimately ours to keep!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly reassuring this entire discussion has been! I'm 63 and have been putting off filing for Social Security partly because I was worried about navigating all the unknowns and potential complications. Reading through everyone's experiences with these mysterious partial payments shows me that what seems scary and confusing at first is actually just part of SSA's standard (albeit poorly explained) process. It's amazing how many people have gone through this exact same situation - getting unexpected smaller payments before their regular benefits start - yet SSA provides zero proactive communication about what to expect. This thread has taught me more about the reality of starting Social Security than months of reading official materials! Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who provided detailed explanations about partial month payments and entitlement dates. This community is already proving to be an invaluable resource as I prepare to take this big step. It's so comforting to know there are knowledgeable, helpful people here who understand the real-world challenges of dealing with SSA's confusing systems!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience that's almost identical to yours! I just started receiving Social Security retirement benefits last month and got a mysterious $85 deposit about 10 days before my first regular check arrived. Like you, I was completely puzzled and worried it might be an error that SSA would want back later. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, it's clear this is just SSA's standard way of handling partial month payments for new beneficiaries - they just do a terrible job of explaining it! What really strikes me is how universal this experience seems to be, yet there's virtually no information about it on SSA's website or in their materials. I spent hours googling and found nothing useful until I discovered this thread. It's honestly frustrating that something so routine isn't better communicated upfront. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and explanations - this discussion has been far more informative than anything I could get from official SSA sources. It's such a relief to know this is completely normal and that we can keep the money without worry!